University Established

The Nevada legislature
first established a university in the state in 1873. It began as
a preparatory school in Elko. Tuition was free,
and students would be prepared for admission "into the Freshman Class in
colleges".

The university
was transferred to Reno in 1885, and Morrill Hall was built. Supporting
a university in Nevada was sometimes was difficult. The boom and
bust of mining made the economy uncertain, and people moved around from
town to town. There were only seven high schools in Nevada in 1886,
and students didn't usually plan to attend college. The university
continued as a preparatory school for many years, and offered a university
high school until 1908.